Traveling Abroad With Pipes

[misterzombie]

I have an opportunity to do a study abroad program for half a month in France. I would like to take my pipe with me. Do any of you guys know about taking tobacco as well? Or will I have to buy my tobacco there? What are your experiences traveling with your pipes?
Thanks

 

[cleidophoros]

Every country has different restrictions on tobacco going through customs. I think this is accurate for France http://france.visahq.com/customs/ but I would check here too http://www.douane.gouv.fr/menu.asp?id=498

Bon voyage!

 

[misterzombie]

Roth, sorry for not being clear and adding that information. I will be traveling from the US.
Thanks for the links, I'll take a look!

 

[seamusjft]

Misterzombie you won't have trouble finding a supply of pipe tobacvo in France. Unless your going really rural there is a tabac on every corner! And you won't get mugged for prices either

 

[treebarksap]

You have nothing to worry about. Customs people don't care about personal effects such as these. The only way you could run into trouble is if it looked like you were trying to supply a store somewhere, but really, even if you have a couple dozen used pipes in your bag, they'll just look at you and tell you to have a nice trip.

Tobacco has some restrictions in quantity, but even this is very hit and miss as I've never had a problem. I'd say anything under a pound and you'll probably be ok, even if it is over their legal limit. Most of the time they just don't care, especially if it is for personal use.

I've travelled from Canada to Brazil several times in the past couple of years with my pipes and tobacco. I've also been from Brazil to Europe (Germany) a few times (including right now) without problems concerning customs being worried about my pipes. Honestly, your chances of being searched alone are so remote that you'll wonder why you spent so much time worrying about it as you're cruising through the gates with your stash.

It's not like you're trying to import high grade heroin, so I'd just forget about it and enjoy your smoke in Europe. By the way, you'll probably have so many options of tobacco in France that I wouldn't take much with me anyway. I'm smoking all the full virginia flake I can handle as it's on every shelf and well stocked here! Same goes with some other hard to get blends that aren't available so easily in ol' America.

No worries!

 

[radio807]

While this doesn't answer your question, you should check out my recent experience: Spain: A Smoker's Disappointment. France may very well be different from Spain, but the point is to do your research before you go so that you won't have unrealistic expectations. Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

 

[hfearly]

I did travel abroad over Christmas and took my pipes. Here are my experiences:
1) I packed my pipes in a shock proof sleeve (http://www.hardcandycases.com/ipad-bubblesleeve.html), I know it says iPad but its perfect for protecting 8-10 pipes in hand luggage.
2) A small (BIC) lighter or a pack of matches is fine when on your person. I left my expensive lighter at home because I was afraid they'd take it at security but no one even took a second glance at my smoking utensils and I went through 4 different security checkpoints in different countries. However they were truly obsessed with scanning my camera and laptop for bombs. They were also not interested at all in the Czech tool, go figure.
3) I packed a small supply of my favourite blends in 50 calories ziplock bags. About a week worth, ca 14 bowls. Buying tobacco was a nice experience in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and France. In larger populated areas there was a good number of tobacconists with sometimes stunning selections of pipe tobacco.
4) Ask the locals about the smoking laws, there does not seem to be an EU wide law, but local provinces and towns seemed to regulate where and when and what to smoke by whom. France was always quite open to smoking everywhere but you never know in this time and age.
When in France make sure to visit the birthplace of pipes in St Claude there are a lot of local artisans still working on handmade pipes and they give tours and sell them for fantastic prices!

 

[vespertillio]

I have to travel to Germany in march from the US. Is it OK to have pipes and tobacco on a carry on? I'm only going for 11 days and was just planning on bringing a 3 pipe rotation with a tin of Nightcap. Are there any TSA gotchas I should worry about? I also have some E-cigs and juice I was planning an bringing. Just a couple small bottles. I know we don't discuss these here but if folks have suggestions I'd love to hear them. Thanks.

 

[baronsamedi]

I've never had any trouble withh pipes or tobacco in my carry-on. My main tamper is a wooden pick imbedded in a .45 cartrige case and they never even worried about that. The carry-on is the best way to carry your stuff, too. Checked bags get lost and burgled. Just bring a couple of good pipes and your baccy, either in their original tins or plastic zip-loc bags. Tampers are OK as long as they don't have a knife blade. Strike-on-box matches and even Bic-type butane lighters are OK.
Edit: For the long trip over, I'd suggest a tin of nasal snuff or snus to keep you company. Makes the plane ride more tolerable and the snuff makes it smell better.

 

[rotschefeller]

I travel a lot back and forth from the US to the EU because I have family and friends on both sides of the atlantic. I have never been stopped by either customs for tobacco, although I never bring all that much.
If you want my opinion, you should look up a tobacconist in your area in France and buy some of his tobacco! It will add to your experience of the culture. You can smoke the stuff you buy at home for the rest of your life.
Although you will not likely be stopped by customs for tobacco if you're just bringing enough for a few weeks. I've never tried bringing a lot of pipe tobacco but I used to bring cartons of cigarettes back when I smoked them.
Sorry, I do not know the exact rules.

 

[misterzombie]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll try to find out more information about the program to see exactly where I'll be. I know it will be in Paris and we are visting things such as the Louvre, Versailles, and Notre Dame.

 

[misterzombie]

Not sure how up to date this is, but if anyone else is going to Paris here is some more info I've found on smoking laws: http://www.paris.com/tourism/smoking_no_smoking

 

[rcstan]

E-cigs and juice I was planning an bringing

When I was in Germany 5 years ago, I didn't smoke pipes and I had put down the "nails" for e-Cigs. They were quite the novelty, and the German airport security officer called his buddy over and one of the border guards, and we had a nice discussion in my broken German about e-cigs. It sort of threw them off when it went thru their scanners. They even asked me to puff it in front of them, which was cool. Overall, it was a nice experience, and I found the German officers a lot more relaxed than our beloved TSA officials .....
As for baccy, like everyone said, if you have a suitcase full, then you will definitely attract attention and they'll probably nick you with excise on whatever is over the "personal use" limit ( I believe it to be 200 g ). Just don't act stereotypical obnoxious American tourist, and you will be just fine.

 

[rotschefeller]

I have a friend in Paris which is about 5 hours by train from where I live now. I've visited him several times. Don't plan on finding a place to smoke inside, at least in the city. But there are lots of tobacco shops. One of our favorite things to do is to buy a couple of nice cigars and sit on the Seine. Find a good tobacconist and a nice day, and give it a try!